For Immediate Release: Friday, June 26, 2020 Contact: Karen Hudson, Acting President Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
The Black Educators Association (BEA) was founded as a result of the injustice, inequity, and systemic racism that Blacks faced for over 400 years within the education system. BEA is the oldest grassroots organization in the province of Nova Scotia and has always stood for educational excellence for Black learners. BEA continues to stand in solidarity with those fighting against systemic racism in education, policing, and all institutions that are negatively impacting our Black learners.
BEA recognizes the injustices that have been taking place in Nova Scotia. Furthermore, BEA continues to advocate for the implementation of the BLAC Report recommendations that have yet to be actioned as a result of the Cole Harbour riots in 1994. BEA will continue to fight for injustice within the education system because Black learners continue to be excluded from curriculum. Our position will always focus on our Black learners, because “Black Lives Matter”, and we believe it begins with education. During this critical time of social unrest and political protest, BEA remains committed to our Black learners. BEA believes that education is only one piece of the puzzle to securing equality of Black people. The Association condemns Anti-Black racism, racial profiling and all forms of racial injustices in education, media, courts, politics and economic systems. Our hope within the Black Educators Association is that our institutions will do the same, not only in word but also in deed.
BEA’s hope is that our Black learners and their initiatives will cease to be underfunded and understaffed. We urge our government officials and the leaders of all institutions and corporations to recognize the achievements of our Black learners, promote Blacks within their organizations and to not be afraid to do what is just and fair as we work together to eliminate the long dehumanizing acts of enslavement towards our Black learners. We need to continue to have uncomfortable conversations at all levels in order to heal from these outrageous acts of Anti-Black systemic racism.
The current Black Lives Matter Movement has elevated the work that must be done in order to address systemic and racist practices that continue to exist within our province. Our children cannot continue to be left out of their history. As a result, we urge our leaders within the Department of Education and Early Childhood Education (EECD) to continue to partner with us and encourage all government departments to partner with the Association and across the entire Black Community to examine their policies and structures and implement the recommendations of the BLAC Report that have yet to be implemented. Social injustice and academic negligence against Black learners cannot continue and our leaders cannot continue to sit silently. Silence is an action that is not acceptable. The Black Educators Association is calling for comprehensive change to the structural biases that exist within the education system. BEA will continue to supplement any resources that are lacking whenever possible and monitor the existing situation for sustainable action and to ensure accountability.
Glad to see this statement I was wondering if the Black Educators Association was still in existence.
Education, Education, Education is key to the advancement of Black Indigenous Canadians especially here in NS.
Develop and have a structured dialogue on how to proceed in creating a plan to move this deplorable situation forward and invite folks who have doable ideas and have the commitment to see this be successful.
S. D. Ross
PS: Have you received the CBC recent news coverage on the 24 or 26 black pre-medicine students in Toronto entering U of T in September – parents who immigrated to our Nation; had black doctors available to mentor them and allowed to shadow during their high school years and are apparently getting financial assistance through scholarship, bursaries, etc. Why isn’t this happening here in NS; why aren’t more Black Indigenous students in the academic stream and receiving tutoring for their math and sciences courses for the purposes of helping them be accepted into Dalhousie Medical School, Dalhousie Engineering and Architectural Schools, Dentistry School, Pharmacy School, etc., etc. – A plan is required, advocating is a must together with an effective communication strategy. Quality academic education begins a child enters the school system – not in grade 10.